James Lee Brooks Jr., 79, educator, minister, father

You knew to get your homework done before 5 p.m. if you grew up in Jim Brooks’ household.

That’s when dinner started and that’s when Mr. Brooks would begin his daily conversation with his kids.

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Courtesy of Ruth Brinson

James Brooks Jr. worked in vocational and adult education in Wisconsin and authored several books.

“The older you were, the longer you sat at the table. It might be 9 or 10 o’clock,” said his daughter, Sarah Henderson, of Mableton. “He tried to keep us sheltered, but he also taught us about life.”

James “Jim” Lee Brooks Jr., 79, of Stone Mountain died Sunday at DeKalb Medical Center of complications of an infection. His funeral is at 3 p.m. today at the chapel of Raleigh Rucker Funeral Home.

Mr. Brooks was an educator, a minister, a tailor, an author, a baker and the father of 18 children in several families stretching from Atlanta to Manitowoc, Wisc.

“He was always busy,” said his sister, Ruth Brinson of Stone Mountain. “He had a thirst for knowledge and adventure.”

Raised in Atlanta’s Pittsburg community, Mr. Brooks started working at the age of 12, delivering for Berger’s grocery store. He earned his GED in 1951 and holds degrees from the American Institute of Baking in Chicago and Atlanta Law School, his family said.

He was pastor of Pentecostal churches in Savannah and Chicago. He worked in vocational and adult education in Wisconsin and authored several books.

He was also an ice sculptor, his daughter said. One of those sculptures she will never forget.

Mrs. Henderson waited for her date for the 1979 Sylvan High School senior prom in the dress her father had made for her — a white satin gown with a lace-covered blue satin cape.

Her date never showed up.

Within the week, Mr. Brooks held a prom party for his distraught daughter at their home. One of the table decorations was an ice sculpture of a bear, Sylvan High’s mascot.

Additional survivors include his sons James Lee Brooks III and Marvin Brooks, both of Decatur; Peter Brooks of McDonough; Tyrone Brooks of Morrow; Kevin Brooks of Douglasville; Jeremiah Brooks of New Orleans; Christopher Brooks of New York City, and James Lee Brooks IV of Summerville, S.C.; his daughters Bathsheba Brooks of Atlanta; Mechelle Newsome of Austell; Debora White of Mesa, Ariz.; Vanessa Wilson and Chantay Brooks of Summerville, S.C.; and Ulander Phillips, Donna Brooks, Sharonda Rogers and Althea Diane Brooks, all of Decatur; 38 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren.